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I was three years old when we arrived in this country.  Thanksgiving was a holiday, but I’m sure my mother did not celebrate it at all.  In Korea we celebrate Chusok following the lunar calendar.  These three days involve visiting relatives and paying our respects to our deceased ancestors.  There are specific foods we eat like the American Thanksgiving.  One of my favorite treats is rice cake (dduk) made with a filling of sesame seeds.

Sometime during our school years my mother started cooking a turkey along with mashed potatoes and gravy.  It was a relatively simple meal.  It has evolved quite a bit since those days.  I usually do most of the cooking with my mother helping with the chopping and prep work. 

This year as in the past 3 or 4 years, we will not have the traditional roast turkey.  My family likes to have fried turkey.  Yep, you’ve got it.  Fried turkey.  It makes life easier for me because my brother does the frying.  I take care of the sides.  Here’s the menu for this year:

• Fried turkey (2 of them since we all love leftovers)
• Garlic mashed potatoes
• Giblet gravy (my mother makes this since she has a great recipe)
• Chestnut, Onion, and Cornbread Stuffing
• Dijon Mustard Green Beans
• Spicy Garlic Broccoli
• Some type of Sweet Potato dish

We will have pumpkin pie for dessert, but I don’t know if there will be anything else.  Sometimes I feel ambitious and will bake something else, but this year life has been moving at such a fast pace that I’m slowing it down. 

Other people have some great ideas.  I hope you can all be inspired by them:

Jennifer writes about her plans.  She, like my family, cooks her turkey the nontraditional way. 

Krisann has a lovely menu.  My mouth was watering reading her post.

Elena talks about what she is thankful for.  It is something we should all thank God for every day.

Dawn (one of my favorite bloggers) writes of her plans.  She has quite a few activities planned for this week beyond Thursday’s dinner.

One recurring theme in this holiday is the food.  I am a serious foodie.  I can watch the Food Network for hours on end as well as read cookbooks.  Angela writes how homemade food and it’s presence in her family’s life has paved the way to create their traditions together.  It’s a wonderful post.

Check out Jennifer’s post about her Thanksgiving plans.  She and her family live on a boat.  Isn’t it cool?

I know that my family has a lot to be thankful for.  I wanted to list a few here before ending this post.

• The safe return of my husband from Iraq.
• A roof over our heads
• The joy of children
• Food on the table
• My in real life and internet friends

Lord, give us grateful hearts and keep us mindful of the needs of others.  We give you thanks and praise for food and all the gifts of love.  Look on us with mercy, Father, and bless us all our days.  Amen

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!